Sanitation in Mathare

Sanitation is arguably the biggest problem facing residents of the Mathare Valley slum. Lack of appropriate facilities practically cripples its inhabitants, and severely disrupts daily activities. Any visitor to the slum is overwhelmed by the sights and smells of the community, and not in a good way.

There is no formal garbage collection or disposal system in the slum. As an “informal settlement”, there is no formal anything in the slum, with the entire area appearing as blank space on official maps. The lack of garbage collection means that the ground is layered in garbage, of all kinds. It piles alongside the main road, into the river, and becomes a feeding ground for goats, chickens, and stray dogs. Aside from the obvious and serious health concerns, the odor quickly becomes unbearable in the hot sun.

Perhaps the most severe sanitation issue in Mathare is the complete lack of toilets. In recent years, local MPs have built several latrine stations, but residents must pay to use them. That’s right, each time they need to use the toilet, its going to cost them 5KSH.

Since they realistically are unable to use the existing latrines, residents often relieve themselves in the narrow lane ways that snake between homes. Often a bucket will be used inside, and tossed outside when it is full. The “flying toilet” is one of the most common methods – do your business in a plastic bag, tie it closed and watch it fly. Again, the health concerns are severe, and water borne diseases are rampant. 

The Nairobi River runs through the middle of the slum, and has become a dumping ground for ‘flying toilets’ and garbage alike. The water is a muddy brown, and yet people still wade through it to search for plastic or bits of metal that could be reused. 

Now, let’s talk about menstruation and sanitation. Women create massive amounts of waste during their period when they use sanitary pads, and in places like Mathare, the only place for it to go is the River. Young girls and women face enough challenges living in Mathare, can you imagine what it would be like to have your period in such a place? To not have a latrine to clean yourself, or even a place to discreetly dispose of the evidence? 

The issue of sanitation may be the most pressing issue faced by residents of Mathare, and it must be addressed immediately. To ignore the lack of toilets, water sources, and garbage disposal methods is to ignore their right to a life lived with dignity. Not only does the lack of sanitation create severe health problems, but it makes daily life that much more difficult.